ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Liz Porter, a Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) employee whose energy leadership has had a major impact on the Corporation's clean energy research, education and sustainability programs, has been chosen as a first-ever recipient of the U.S. Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative Award.

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Sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Clean Energy Initiative, the award is a key component of the U.S. Department of Energy's implementation of C3E, which is designed to increase the number of women engaged in clean energy disciplines across science, academia, industry, policy and advocacy.

Porter was chosen as the award program's inaugural winner in the corporate implementation category. "Through her energetic leadership, Liz has made significant contributions to the success of Lockheed Martin's clean energy initiatives, while also taking time to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers who will develop tomorrow's clean energy solutions," said Gerry Fasano, president, IS&GS-Defense at Lockheed Martin.

Recently named a program director at Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions-Defense, Porter previously served as director of energy initiatives for Corporate Engineering and Technology, with responsibility for all aspects of the Corporation's energy and climate change campaign. She oversaw the development of the Lockheed Martin Energy Solutions Center in Virginia, which opened in 2010 and has been toured by visitors ranging from elementary school students to international dignitaries. The Center recently hosted representatives from more than 20 embassies during a U.S. State Department event.

Porter has been instrumental in identifying technologies and coordinating efforts across Lockheed Martin that contributed to the Corporation's achievement of its five-year sustainability targets. Also under her leadership, the Corporation has committed funding support for energy programs at several major U.S. educational institutions.

Porter is a mentor to several Lockheed Martin employees with an interest in pursuing similar career paths, and at the same time she visits classrooms and speaks at events that reach out to students with an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She also participates in several industry associations, including the American Council on Renewable Energy, Society of Women Engineers, and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

Porter will accept the award Sept. 28 in Boston at the Women in Clean Energy Symposium, hosted by the MIT Energy Initiative and the U.S. Department of Energy. The C3E program is part of the 23-country Clean Energy Ministerial, an international forum that provides opportunities for energy ministers and other high-level government officials to share and advance ideas on clean energy technologies, policies and goals.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 120,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation's net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin